Illuminated earring



March 27, 1951 E. w. GAFFIELD 2,546,945

ILLUMINATED EARRINQ Filed Oct. 3, 1947 IN; 'EN TOR. 141 W. GAFFIELD' AGENT Patented Mar. 27,1951

ILLUMINATED. :EARI tING Eli"W Graiifield,WVashington, D. C., assignor o1 ififty :per cent to ;.Raymond. N. .Matson, 1Sil'ver -:Spring, Md.

Applicationflctober a 1947,.SerialN05777672 3 Claims (o1. 2.40 .-a4

-- The present invention-relates generallyto improvements in ear-rings and more particularly to-means including ornamental members for illuminating the ear-rings.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a highly decorative pair of ear-rings which may be-illuminated at will'by the wearer .to enhanceits decorative effects.

Another important object/of the present ,in-

vention is .toiprovidera pair of ear-rings which may be readily illuminated by concealed means supported in the hair of the "wearer. 1 .A further important object of the present invention is to provide a pair of ear-rings "which :are adapted to be illuminated by a smallbattery :connectedin a parallel electrical pircuit' with the -ea-r-rings. p Y r A still further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel 'v'circuit breaking ;meansfr the electrical circuit of a pair of batteryilluminated ear-rings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of ear-rings which are adapted to be illuminated by electrical means mounted in the hair of the wearer and concealed by decorative members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained novelty of the type described which is simple in construction, may be inexpensively manufactured, and which will be of long life, the various parts being susceptible of ready replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of the invention mounted on the head and ears of a wearer;

Figured is a view showing the various componentsz of the invention and the electrical circuit connecting the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation to an enlarged scale of the circuit breaking means mounted on the battery; and

Figure-A is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral [0 designates a womans comb which is conventionally arcuate in cross-section to conform'to the shape of the head. A small dry-cell battery l2 of the pencil type is secured at spaced points to the upper portion of the comb ill by wiring I4, etc. so as to be supported thereby.

In order that the comb and battery may be concealed when placed in the hair of a wearer the wearers hair.

The ear-rings 20 are identical and each 'comprises a small internally threaded socket 22-made integral with a reflector or decorative jewel 24. A small incandescent bulb 26 is inserted.- through an aperture in the reflector '24 where -it-is retained in screwthreaded engagement with -the socket 22. It --will be readily apparent that rthe bulb 26 may be of any chosen color so as to enhance the decorative effect-of thejewel-Zbto -a maximumby its illumination. The selection of 'a'particular type of jewel or-reflectorisalso guidedby'the decorative effect which the wearer desires to achieve.

"The ear rings 20 are each provided with "a conventional ear-lobe clamp 28 which may be fixed either to the jewel 24 (as shown) or to the socket 22. Each socket is electrically connected to the battery I2 in a parallel circuit by means of insulated wires 30 and 32 which are preferably of a neutral color so as to blend with the hair of the wearer if exposed.

The wires 30 which lead to the positive pole of the battery terminate in a copper strap 34 which is suitably secured to the cardboard insulating tube 36 surrounding the battery. The strap 34 terminates in an inverted U contact 38 which makes electrical connection with a partially overlying and cooperating strap 35 which is also mounted on the tube 36 and has a direct connection with the positive battery pole. Thus parallel electrical circuits are established with the ear-rings, the current passing from the positive battery pole, the straps 35 and 34, the wires 30, the socket 22, the bulb 26, and back to the battery case by the wires 32.

Novel means for breaking the previously described circuits is provided by a slide 4!) which tracks on the strap 35 by means of down and inwardly turned flanges 4| which loosely grip the strap 35 and is prevented from disconnection therewith by the upturned strap end portion 42. The slide 40, which may be formed of any suitable insulating material such as Wood, plastic, etc. is effective to break the electrical circuit when moved from the position shown (Figure 3) to a position against the strap end 42 where the under side of the slide engages the contact 38 to separate the straps 34 and 35.

An important advantage of the present invention resides in the facility with which damaged or worn parts may be replaced. Defective or different types and shapes of incandescent bulbs are of course readily removable from or secured in the screw threaded sockets 22. Jewels or refiectors may be substituted one for another by simple soldering operations which may readily .be performed by any jeweler. Similarly, a dead battery may be replaced by removingthe cell from the tube 38, and inserting a new battery in the old tube. The soldering. to the'newcell of the ends of the wires 32 and the strap end 35 may.

also be readily done by a jeweler, etc., the switch blade connections remaining undisturbed.

It will now be apparent that the ear-rings comprising the present invention are simple but unique in construction and operation and provide -;a:highly decorative effect when worn on the head for artistic, display or amusement purposes.

' It isto be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without saidsocket, an incandescent bulb mounted in said socket, andmeans for energizing said bulb to illuminate said ear-ring, said means comprising a comb for positioning in the hair of the Wearer, a battery fixed to said comb and supported thereby, and wires connecting said bulb and said battery to form an electric circuit therefor.

2. An ear-ring device including a member for positioning on the ear lobe of a wear comprising positioning on the ear lobe of a wearer comprising a socket, areflector mounted on said socket, an incandescent bulb mounted in said socket, and means for energizing said bulb to illuminate said ear-ring, said means comprising a comb for positioning in the haii'of the wearer, a battery fixed to said comb and supported thereby, wires connecting said bulb and said battery to form an electric circuit therefor, normally closed switch blades mounted on said battery, and insulator means mounted on one of said blades and operable for separating the same to open said circuit.

ELI W. GAFFIELD.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-in the file ofthis patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 458,952 Riley Septfll, 1891 659,467 lCh-urch Oct. 9,1900 669,949 Underwood Mar; .12, 1901 918,181 Meadows Apr. 13, 1909 1,030,516 Lagarde et a1. June 25', 1912 1,211,976 Spencer et al Jan. 9, 1917 1,261,824 LaVine Apr. 9, 1918 2,265,670 Platt Dec. 9, 1941 2,370,601 Wimpfheimer et al. Feb. 27, 1945 

